title: Suctioning via the tube during endotracheal intubation in a model of severe upper airway haemorrhage: is there an advantage vs. suctioning with a separate catheter?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a model of severe simulated upper airway haemorrhage, we compared two techniques of performing endotracheal intubation: (1) suctioning via the endotracheal tube during laryngoscopy with subsequently advancing the endotracheal tube, and (2) the standard intubation strategy with performing laryngoscopy, and performing suction with subsequently advancing the endotracheal tube.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one emergency medical technicians intubated the trachea of a manikin with severe simulated airway haemorrhage using each technique in random order.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the number of oesophageal intubations between suctioning via the tube and the standard intubation strategy [8/41 (20%) vs. 6/41 (15%); P = 0.688], but suctioning via the endotracheal tube needed significantly more time [median (IQR, CI 95%): 42 (20, 39-60) vs. 33 (15, 35-48)s; P = 0.015].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suctioning via the endotracheal tube showed no benefit regarding the number of oesophageal intubations and needed more time when compared to the standard intubation strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitterlechner
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wipp
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paal
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Strasak
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Felbinger
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schmittinger
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D057785:Catheters; D004867:Equipment Design; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008348:Manikins; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*